Adjustable necktie



hlm-23,1936; A W, MAYER y 2,045,279

ADJUSTABLE NECKTIE Filed July 26, 1955 IN VENTOR n i ATTOENEY.l

Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to neckwear, and has reference toan improved type of adjustable neckband.

' It is a general object of my invention to provide an improved adjustable necktie, of the general character illustrated in United States Letters Patentv No. 2,003,359, issued June 4, 193'5. This type of necktie has al neckband portion whichV is adjustable in length by doubling it back upon itselfr and by providing at its end a hook which is adapted to engage with a selected one ofY a series of openings or perforations in the neckband.

The more specific objects of the present invention include an improved mode of assembly of various elements, whereby the outward appearance of the necktie is more attractive, whereby the construction is more compact and easier to slip through or under a collar, and whereby the adjustable feature is coupled with a maximum display of attractive tie material.

In accordance with my present invention, the neckband portion consists of inner and outer plies of relatively delicate tie material, and the construction is of a character which leaves the tie material exposed throughout the length of the neckband. This desirable result is achieved notwithstanding the provision, in the neckbandyof a series of spaced perforations permitting the length of the neckband to be adjusted as hereinbefore mentioned; and the present invention provides a unique method for reinforcing the relatively delicate tie material.

` Briefly, my present invention provides for the Y association, with the inner ply of the neckband,

of va reinforcement band, which is disposed on the inside-oithev inner ply so as to be totally concealed from view. The reinforcement band has a series of perforations which register with a similar set of perforations in the tie material itself;V andv means are provided for marginally inte-rengaging. each pair of registering perforations so as to secure the reinforcement band in position without the necessity for the useY of adhesive or unsightly stitching.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tie of the "ready-kmade variety, embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

knot II are the neckband portions I2 and I3.

The neckband of the tie is madecadjustable in length by providing a hook I4 or equivalent male fastening element at the extremity of the neckband portion I3, whereby this portion may be doubled back upon itself to engage the hook in any one of a series of perforations provided in a predetermined arrangement. A metallic loop I5 is slidably mounted on the neckband portion I3 and is adapted to be engaged at its midportion by a hook I6 that is carried' at the extremity of the neckband portion I2. c

The manner of applying the hooks I4 and' I6 to the extremities of the neckband portions has not been illustrated indetail, because these particular portions of the structure have no bearing upon the present invention.

In accordance with the present unique mode of constructing and assembling the parts, the neckband portion I3 is composed of the inner and outer plies Il and I8. Each ply is madefof relatively delicate and ornamental tie material, and in the nished assembly the longitudinal edge portions of these plies are turned inwardly and are stitched together, as at I B. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, this requires that the plies I'I and I8 be first assembled back to back, and then, after stitching them together, the entire assembly is turned inside out.

In accordance with my present invention, the inner ply Il is provided with the longitudinally spaced perforations which are arranged along the midportion of the ply at predetermined distances from one another, the location of these perfor-ations being such that the neckban-d as a whole may be adjusted to dilerent neckband or collar sizes.

In carrying out the present invention, a reinforcement band 2l, of somewhat narrower width than that of the ply I1, is provided with a series of perforations 22 which are arranged in longitudinally spaced relation along the midportion of the band 2|. The perforations 22 are spaced apart by amounts corresponding to the spaces between the perforations 2D, so that when the band 2| is associated with the underside of the ply I7 the perforations 25J and 22 are in registry.

The band 2| may be of any suitable staunch material, and it is preferably selvaged along itsI longitudinal edges 23, the term selvage being intended to refer to the type of selvage which is usually provided by weaving during the manufacture of the fabric, whereby the resultant product is of single ply substantially uniform thickness throughout.

When the band 2| is associated with the undersurface of the ply Il, each pair of registering perforations is marginally interengaged. One way of accomplishing this is to provide a buttonhole type of stitching 24 to each pair of perforations. This fastening means retains the perforations 20 and 22 in alignment and registry, and serves at the same time to secure the reinforcement band 2| to the ply II in a rm and efficient manner. I draw attention to the fact that no adhesive is required between the band 2| and the ply I1; nor are any stitches, other than the stitches 24 (or the equivalent thereof), needed to hold the parts in proper associated relationship. This fact, coupled with the single ply selvaged nature of the reinforcement band 2|, produces an assembly which is uniquely compact and attractive. As shown in Figure 2, it will be observed that the band 2l is in completely concealed position, and upon viewing that portion of Figure 3 which is disposed toward the right, and also Figure 1, it will be seen that the exterior exposed surface of the neckband is composed Wholly of the ornamental tie fabric.

In thickness, the neckband is compact and uniform, devoid of any medial bulkiness, and well adapted for smooth and easy passage through or around the collar with which the tie is to be worn.

At the same time, the neckband is adjustable, as hereinbefore described, and when the hook I4 is inserted into any selected perforation, no undue strain is applied to the relatively delicate tie fabric, any tension or stress being taken up and borne by the reinforcement band 2|.

As hereinbefore described, the plies II and I8 are stitched together back to back, when the tie is manufactured. In carrying out the present invention, the reinforcement band 2| is rst associated with the ply I'I, as shown in Figure 3; and when the plies I'I and I 8 are stitched together, the band 2| is disposed outwardly. Then, when the tubular construction is turned inside out, the parts assume the relationship shown in Figure 2.

Inasmuch as the perforations do not extend for vthe full length of the neckband portion I3, it may be desirable, under certain circumstances, to construct the ply I'I initially of two parts. This possibility I have illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the inner ply consists of the forward portion 25 and the rearward portion 26. The rearward portion 26 is first perforated and associatedwith the reinforcement band hereinbefore described; the two portions 25 and 2B are then united end to end; and the resultant assembly is then stitched, in back to back relationship, to the outer unitary ply 21. The tubular construction is then turned inside out. It will be understood, however, that the portion 26 is of exactly the same material as the portion 25, viz., of relatively delicate tie fabric, and that the finished construction displays this tie fabric throughout the entire length of the neckband.

Figure 4 also illustrates the manner in which the invention is applied, with equal facility, to a tie that is not of the ready-made variety. No preformed knot is present in this construction, and the unperforated neckband portion is permanently secured, as at 28, to a metallic elongated ring through which the other neckband portion slidably extends. The extremity of the perforated neckband portion is provided with a hook 29 which corresponds to the hook I5 of Figure 1.

In Figure 5, the invention is shown applied to a ready-made four-in-hand type of tie, and detailed description of this figure is not believed to be necessary, since it will be obvious that the features described in connection with Figures 1-3 are exactly the same in Figure 5 except for the fact that the knot 30 is a four-in-hand type of knot instead of a bow knot.

It will also be understood that the invention is applicable to a regular four-in-hand tie, the tie in such a case being substantially identical with the tie illustrated in Figure 4, except that the ends are considerably longer and are shaped in the conventional four-in-hand manner.

It will be obvious that changes in the details, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In an adjustable necktie, a neckband portion comprising inner and outer plies of relatively delicate tie material, said plies having their longitudinal edges turned inwardly and stitched together by concealed vstitching the inner ply having a series of perforations arranged in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation, said neckband portion being adapted to be doubled back upon itself and provided at its end with a male fastening element adapted to engage with a selected perforation, a reinforcement band or relatively staunch material arranged on the in- 50 side surface of said inner ply, said band having perforations registering with those in said inner ply, and means marginally interengaging each pair of registering perforations for securing the 55 reinforcement band in position.

2. In an adjustable necktie, a neckband portion comprising inner and outer plies of relatively delicate tie material, said plies having their longitudinal edges turned inwardly and stitched together by concealed stitching the inner ply having a series of perforations arranged in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation, said neckband portion being adapted to be doubled back upon itself and provided at its end with a male fastening element adapted to engage with a selected perforation, a reinforcement band of relatively staunch material arranged on the inside surface of said inner ply, said band having perforations registering with those in said inner ply, and means marginally interengaging each pair of registering perforations for securing the reinforcement band in position, said band being otherwise entirely free of connection with the necktie.

3. In an adjustable necktie, a neckband portion comprising inner and outer plies of relatively delicate tie material, said plies having their longitudinal edges turned inwardly and stitched together by concealed stitching the inner ply having a series of perforations arranged in predetermined longitudinally spaced relation, said neckband portion being adapted to be doubled back upon itself and provided at its end With a l0 male fastening element adapted to engage with a selected perforation, a. reinforcement band of relatively staunch material arranged on the inside surface of said inner ply, said band having a selvage on each longitudinal edge and having perforations registering with those in said inner ply, and means marginally interengaging each pair of registering perforations, said band being otherwise entirely free of connection with the necktie.

WILLIAM MAYER. 

